Former Manchester United player, Gary Neville, has predicted that Manchester United will finish this season’s Premier League on third or fourth position unless they sign two defenders in January transfer window.

Neville is still hopeful United can overcome it challenge after an up-and-down start to the new Premier League campaign.

Jose Mourinho’s men were defeated by Brighton and Tottenham in what was their worst start to a new campaign since 1992, although they did win at home to Leicester and away at Burnley just before the international break.

Mourinho’s side will face Watford on Saturday in the Premier League, and Neville is still expecting a top-four finish for the Red Devils, but only if Mourinho can add two defenders to the squad in January.

“[I’m] still hopeful that somehow, through siege mentality more than anything, they can mount some sort of challenge that really just disrupts people,” Neville told The Times.

“If they can stay in it until January and maybe get one or two defenders in, they may have a chance, but I doubt it. I think United will be third or fourth.

“Believe it or not I liked the Tottenham game, certainly the first 40 minutes. I watched Burnley and thought it was really good. I am hopeful they have turned a corner.”

Meanwhile, Mourinho has been critical of the performances of his centre-backs this season, especially after conceding three goals in each of the defeats to Brighton and Spurs.

The Old Trafford club had been linked with the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire and Jerome Boateng in the summer, but failed to bring in a new centre-back.